The European Parliamentary Union (EPU) was a private organization set up by Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi , who was also its Secretary General. It held its preliminary conference on 4-5 July 1947 at Gstaad , Switzerland , and followed up with its first full conference of 8 to 12 September.
Kalergi’s love is to draft a European Constitution . The EPU asked some 4000 members of Parliament of 13 European countries to decide for or against a European Federation in the framework of the United Nations. The project was criticized by Denis de Rougemont and Duncan Sandys , his-in-law of Winston Churchill , founder of the European Movement , who advocated a model based on an intergovernmental co-operation without any loss of national sovereignty. The EPU played a prominent role in the Congress of the Hague , 7-10 May 1948. [1]
The second EPU Congress was held from 1 to 5 September 1948 in Interlaken , Switzerland. [2] On 20 September 1949, the EPU puts for the third time in Venice and voted in favor of greater European political integration and an extension of the powers of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe , [3] which had just been established. In 1949, the British MP Kim Mackay became chair of the UPR. The creation of the Council of Europe has resulted in a loss of influence for the EPU, since European parliaments now have their own intergovernmental forum in Strasbourg .
On May 18, 1950, Kalergi was awarded the International Charlemagne Prize of the City of Aachen . [4] In 19.-20 June 1950, Rheinfelden , Switzerland, the EPU Organized a Conference of German and French Parliamentarians. [5]Shortly afterwards, the EPU was merged with the European Movement . [6] Kalergi was elected honorary president of the European Movement in 1952. [7]
External links
- A visionary proved himself to be a realist: Richard N. Coudenhove-Kalergi Austria and the United States of Europe, 1923-2003 / by Michael Gehler
- Archival sources on the European Union at the Historical Archives and the EU in Florence
References
- Jump up^ In: SOUQUET, Marie-Amelie. The European movement, building democracy in Europe. 2004
- Jump up^ ‚The Congress of the European Parliamentary Union in Interlaken‘ from Cahiers du Monde Nouveau (October 1948)on CVCE website
- Jump up^ First resolution adopted by the EPU Congress in Venice (20 September 1949)on CVCE website
- Jump up^ Paneuropaean Unionis ePaneurope website
- Jump up^ http://www.global-g.jp/europe/doc/EU1950-1959.pdf
- Jump up^ Paneurope – the founder of the unified Europe ideaon Paneuropa website
- Jump up^ http://www.eurospiritains.org/EUROFONDATEURS.htm#COUDEN